The document summarizes several recent biotechnology innovations, including using oil-eating bacteria to clean up oil spills, using a protein called GDF 11 to improve aging brains and muscles in mice, developing advanced biofuels from cellulosic biomass, using 3D x-ray filming to study insect movements, discovering anti-psychotic drugs that kill brain cancer, developing affordable genome sequencing technology, engineering immune cells to attack cancer, creating RNA detection probes without harming cells, and assessing monoclonal antibody therapies using ADCC reporter assays.

1. RECENT
BIOTECHNOLOGY
INNOVATIONS
SADIQ

2. Scope of Biotechnology
• The field of biotechnology is constantly
advancing. From finding ways to slow down
the process of food spoilage, advancements
in genetic engineering, to adapting organisms
to clean up contaminated environments, new
applications and biotechnological inventions
are continuously being developed to help
improve our world. Here are five
breakthrough biotechnological innovations
currently underway.

3. INNOVATIONS
Oil-Eating Bacteria to Clean up Oil Spills
• Certain bacteria have the ability to metabolize oil isn’t
a new discovery of course. Back in 1989, bacteria
were used experimentally in attempts to clean up the
11 million gallons of crude oil spilled by the
Exxon Valdez after it ran aground off the coast of
Alaska. Though it made little to no difference back
then, now that researchers have a complete blueprint
for the oil-hungry bacteria :Alcanivorax borkumensis,
they’ll have the ability to optimize the conditions for
these bugs, enabling them to soak up the hundreds of
millions of litres of oil that enter our waters each year.

4. INNOVATIONS
Researches in GDF 11anti-aging protein
• Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers have shown
that a protein, GDF 11, they previously demonstrated can
make the failing hearts in aging mice appear more like those
of young health mice, similarly improves brain and skeletal
muscle function in aging mice.
Pig extract used to regenerate human muscle
• Damaged leg muscles grew stronger and partially
regenerated in three out of five men who were implanted with
extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from pig bladder.The study
was conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine (UPMC) and the McGowan Institute for
Regenerative Medicine.

5. INNOVATIONS
Advanced Biofuel production
• Advanced bio fuels – liquid fuels synthesized from the
sugars in cellulosic biomass – offer a clean, green and
renewable alternative to gasoline, diesel and jet fuels.
Bringing the costs of producing these advanced bio fuels
down to competitive levels with petro fuels, however, is a
major challenge. Researchers at the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE)'s Joint Bio Energy Institute (JBEI), a bio
energy research centre led by Berkeley Lab, have taken
another step towards meeting this challenge with the
development of a new technique

6. INNOVATIONS
3D x-ray film
• Scientists have developed a new technique to find
out. The method records 3D X-ray films showing
precise internal movements. Researchers at ANKA,
the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s Synchrotron
Radiation Source, developed the technique. The
scientists applied this technique to a living weevil
and generated complete 3D film sequences in real
time and slow motion. To do so, they genererated up
to 100,000 2-D radiographs per second

7. INNOVATIONS
New hope against glioblastoma
• Researchers at the University of California, San Diego,
School of Medicine have discovered that FDA-approved
anti-psychotic drugs possess tumour-killing activity
against the most aggressive form of primary brain
cancer, glioblastoma.
• Used a technology platform called shRNA to test how
each gene in the human genome contributed to
glioblastoma growth. The discovery that led to the
shRNA technology won the Nobel Prize in
Physiology/Medicine in 2006

8. Cheap, Effective Genome Sequencing
Technology
• a new collaborative agreement between Roche, a leader in
biotechnology and research-focused healthcare, and IBM,
one of the world’s largest technology companies, has them
joining forces to develop a nanopore-based sequencer that
will directly read and decode human DNA quickly, efficiently
and affordably.
• Similar to vps hosting offering affordable shared hosting, their
goal is to reduce the cost of sequencing an individual’s
genome to between $100 and $1000.
• .Currently, DNA, RNA and protein analysis, charge anywhere
from $9,500-$19,500, an already drastic drop compared to its
previous $48,000 price tag.

9. Tumor-Fighting Immune Cells to Attack Cancer
• Researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer
Center have created a large, well-armed troop of tumor-
seeking immune system cells to locate and attack
dangerous melanomas.
• genetically engineer the immune system to become a
cancer killer and then image how the immune system
operates at the same time

10. Smart Flare RNA Detection Probes
• Researchers often use antibodies to sort cell types in
gene-expression studies. The standard way to confirm
that cells have been sorted correctly is by fixing them for
microscopy or lysing them for PCR or western blotting.
New SmartFlare RNA Detection Probes from EMD
Millipore offer an alternative option for cell sorting by
allowing fluorescent detection of internal RNA species
without harm to the cell—no antibodies required

11. ADCC Reporter Bioassay
• Antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity
(ADCC) reporter assays are used to assess the
efficacy of monoclonal antibody therapies. Although
such therapies are popular, particularly to treat
cancer and autoimmune disorders.